Five places that show the city at its best, most of them free to enter. Hours below are the published ones as of November 2026; churches shift them for services.
1Vilnius Cathedral
Photo: Peggy_Marco / Pixabay, Pixabay License
A white, columned cathedral built on the site of a former pagan temple, beside the castle hill. It has burned and been rebuilt several times, and the walls still carry traces of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Lithuania’s patron saint, St. Casimir, rests inside.
Time
20 to 45 min
Setting
Both
Best time
Morning, from opening
Getting there
Katedros a. 2, Cathedral Square
Tip: The 57-metre belfry next door at Katedros a. 1 is a separate visit with its own hours, Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Catacomb visits are arranged through the Church Heritage Museum and not at the cathedral door.
A Gothic brick church with a cluster of slender spires, and behind it the Bernardine church and monastery, where Gothic and Renaissance details survive.
Time
20 to 40 min
Setting
Both
Best time
Late afternoon, when both are open
Getting there
Maironio g. 8, in the Old Town
Tip: The two churches keep separate schedules, so a shut door at one tells you nothing about the other. St. Anne’s is closed on Mondays and opens on weekdays only in the late afternoon, while the Bernardine church opens in the morning.
Entry is free. St. Anne’s: Tuesday to Friday 4.30 pm to 7 pm, Saturday from 10.30 am, Sunday 9 am to 5 pm.
Photo: Mr Alex Photography / Pexels, Pexels License
A 45-metre tower with an observation platform above the Old Town. You can take 193 wooden steps or a lift, and the reward is the view over the red roofs.
Time
30 min to 1 h
Setting
Outdoor
Best time
Late April to October only
Getting there
Šv. Jono g. 12
Tip: The tower closes for the cold season. In 2026 it was open from 24 April to 20 October, so winter visitors will see it from the street only. Check the museum site for daily hours before you go.
The only one of the city’s ten defensive gates to survive. A chapel above the arch holds a 17th-century painting of the Mother of Mercy, venerated by Catholics, Russian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox believers alike.
Time
15 to 30 min
Setting
Both
Best time
Early morning, from opening
Getting there
Aušros Vartų g. 14
Tip: Look for the firing slits on the outer face of the gate before you climb to the chapel. People pray in front of the painting while visitors file past, so keep your voice and your camera down there.
Entry is free. The chapel opens daily at 6 am from May to October and at 7 am from November to April, and closes at 7 pm.
Three white concrete crosses, 12 metres tall, stand on a hill above the Bernardine Garden and the Vilnelė. The climb gives the widest view of the Old Town.
Time
30 min to 1 h
Setting
Outdoor
Best time
Sunset, or after dark
Getting there
Kalnų Park
Tip: The crosses are lit in different colours on special occasions, so look up when you walk the city after dark. The park is open ground rather than a ticketed site, which makes it a good last stop of a day.
